Ford and Lincoln Doors Could Fly Open in These Warm U.S. States
Ford Motor Company just recalled 828,053 late-model Ford and Lincoln models due to faulty side door latches, but the risk depends on where a vehicle was sold and registered.
The automaker claims the pawl spring tab in the side door latch could break, preventing the door from latching — or worse. If the doors are still able to latch, they could fly open while the vehicle is moving.
The recall spans numerous Ford models — 2013-15 C-Max, 2013-15 Escape, 2012-15 Focus, 2015 Mustang and 2014-16 Transit Connect, as well as the 2015 Lincoln MKC. Of the recalled units, 766,682 were sold in the U.S., the remainder in Mexico. The automaker reports that one accident and one reported injury could be linked to the defect.
Temperature and sun exposure plays a big role in the issue. That means drivers who normally don’t worry about winter should be worried about their doors. According to Ford, the regional recall “primarily” affects vehicles sold or registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Oregon and Washington.
With the exception of the Transit Connect, none of the recalled vehicles were built after January 31, 2015.
Besides fixing the latches free of charge, the automaker plans to throw a freebie out to owners of other Ford vehicles. A customer satisfaction program launched alongside the recall offers a one-time replacement of any broken door latch on a Ford vehicle, regardless of model.
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"Those aren't doors son, that there is what's known as air flaps."
That famous Ford quality strikes again! Big Al's business model of "profits now, recalls later" is not going to go well for Ford.
Fix Or Recall Daily = FORD
A coworker with a Fusion built in 2013 had the same problem.